Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-31
A STRANGE STORY.
A Husband and Vito Reunited Under
Circumstances Decidedly Romantic.

A Louisville. KY, dispatch to the ST.
Louis GLOBE Democrat, says: Jacksonville
gossips were yesterday morning treated TO
choice morsel in the shape of romantic
and sensational marriage. While Mayor
Warder was still in bed, about 6 o'clock,
servant raped at his door and informed
him that gentleman and lady were wait
ing in the parlor for him to marry them.
"Show them in here said the Mayor.
thinking they were Kentucky elopists.
The visitors were Richard Mcdaniel and
Mrs. Amanda Downs, and, after inspecting
the license which was handed him, the
Mayor, without lifting his head from the
pillow, pronounced them man and wife.
The story of their courtship is a strange
one, and is bristling with romance. Thirty
two years ago Richard Mcdaniel was
prosperous young merchant of Jefferson
vile, and Miss Amanda White was one of
the reignlng bellies. They loved and were
married. Everything was smooth and
pleasant for fifteen years, when the young
husband formed the acquaintance of
smooth-tonged young gambler, who per-
suaded him to invent some of his money in
a faro bank. The game so fascinated him
that he neglected his wife, his friends and
his business, and finally became addicted
to strong drink. This was too much for
the young wife, and while her husband
was absent from the city on protracted
spree, she secured adivorce. Mcdaniel read
notice of the decree in an indianapolis
paper the next day, and for the first time
a realization of the depth to which he had
descended seemed to come upon him. He
returned to Jacksonville, sold out his bus
iness, placed the proceeds in the bank,
and suddenly and mysteriously disappeared
Not a cent of his money, and he
was worth in the neighborhood
Of 100000, was taken, and he left his
home penniless. For seventeen years not
word or line was heard from him, and
his friends supposed him dead, but as he
left no direct heirs an administrator was
appointed for his estate, which has ever
since been becoming more and more val
liable.
In the meantime sister of the divorced
wife died, and when her brother-in-aw,
Mr.. William Downs, proposed that she be-
come mother to his children she con-
sented, and they were married. Then fol-
lowed fourteen happy years, but two years
! ago Mr.. Downs died, and she has since de
voted herself to caring for the orphans he
| intrusted to her.
On last Saturday afternoon Mrs. Downs
went down to the postoiiice to mail letter,
and in the crowd that usually fills that
place she was jostled against fine-looking
well-dressed old gentleman, who seemed TO
| be a stranger in the city. 1t was Richard
Mcdaniel, now grown old and gray. Their
eyes met and the recognition was mutual {:
Amanda
"Dick p were uttered almost in one
breath, and they were locked in a fond en-
brace. Before the astonished bystanders
could recover their surprise the couple
were walking arm in arm toward Mrs.
! Down. house There Mr.. Mcdaniel told
his story.
After leaving Jacksonville he drilted to
Chicago, and, being in desperate frame of
mind, did not care what became of himself
Being without money, and having resolved
not to touch penny of his estate at home,
he secured position as n roustabout on
one of the numerous sailing vessels plying
on Lake Michigan. With no other object
in life, he devoted himself arduously to his
new business, and in time he was made
captain of the vessel. lie saved his
money, bought steamers of his own, and
some time ago. finding himself rich a
second time, a stronger desire came upon
him to visit the home of his childhood.
Hastily arranging his business affairs he
boarded the cars, and Saturday after
noon found him on the streets of the city
he had left seventeen years before.
| He again proposed and for the second
time was accepted by the woman he loved.
1
vile, in one of the many fine residences
Mr.. Mcdaniel owns. The old saying, at
never rains but pours," is very true in this
case. During Mr.. McDaniePs absence his
grandfather, who lived some distance out
in the country, died and left him another
fortune. The possessor of over 100000,
he will now settle down to quiet life, and
together with his good wife, who is still
handsome, will enjoy the happiness that
for so many years has been withheld from
them.